Cycads

Question 1

where do Cycads occur

Answer 1

in all tropical and sub-tropical areas worldwide

Question 2

what are Cycads known for

Answer 2

the cycad group is ancient and was one of the first plant groups to colonise land roughly 280 million years ago. Cycads are often called living fossils and it has been estimated that some of the living plants are 500 years old.

Question 3

how does this plant grow

Answer 3

The stems grow above or below the ground and are covered with brown leaf bases. The leaves are arranged in a palm-like crown around the stem. The sexes are separate and the plants have either male cones or female cones.

Question 4

is this plant endangered

Answer 4

Cycads are under threat from people. The demand for these plants as garden specimens has made themnearly extinctin the wild. They are also collected and used for medicinal purposes. All cycads arespecially protectedin South Africa and there are also international laws that control thetradingof plants. Cycads are protected asendangered florain South African national parks and nature reserves.

Question 5

how do people protect Cycads

Answer 5

Conservationists have put electronic identification chips into many wild cycads to try to stop people from stealing them. Even these identification chips have not stopped poachers because they can make so much money by selling cycads. The photograph below illustrates a cycad.

Question 6

what are some regulation for the trade or ownership of the Cycad

Answer 6

• It would be best if you had a valid permit.
• You may not trade in specimens that arecritically endangeredspeciesof cycads.
• You may not deal in specimens with a stem diameter of more than 15 cm or more than 7 cm for some specific species.
• You may not gather, collect, pluck, uproot, damage, chop off, remove or destroy wild specimen cycads.